by Pippa Roscoe
‘Why didn’t you tell me this? Why didn’t you try to explain?’ she asked in a softer voice than the trembling she felt within her.
‘And risk you leaving with my child?’
‘A departure you specifically engineered only a few months later?’ she couldn’t help but interject.
‘The few months it took me to realise just how much damage I could do to you. When I realised that I was too weak not to give in to the urge to destroy the last trace of Vladimir’s hold on this world.’
Ella took a moment to think through his words, the pain and anguish clearly ringing within them. She had been so determined, so sure of her demand when she’d made it, she could see that she would have walked away. Her own pain and anger, the fierceness with which she’d thought she had been in the right.
Taking a breath, she made herself feel the intention of his words, to feel the truth of them.
‘And now?’ she asked.
‘Now?’ Roman seemed confused, as if in his mind there simply couldn’t be a now.
‘Yes. Now, how do you feel?’
‘About Vladimir’s company?’ he asked.
‘I don’t care about the damn company and never want to hear its name again,’ she cried. ‘I want to know how you feel about me.’
She looked at him, watching his features closely as if they could give her some kind of hint or hope to what she believed he felt. He crossed the room to come before her, dropped to his knees and took her hands in his. ‘There is nothing in this world more important to me. I love you with every single beat of my heart.’
Her own heart leapt, her hands shaking within the press of his.
‘I would give anything to take back all the hurt I inflicted upon you, all the times you felt doubt, or questioned yourself because of me. I have had only a week of that myself and...’ He broke off, shaking his head. ‘I am truly sorry for it. And if you give me the chance I will spend each and every single day trying to make up for it. I will never, ever speak an untruth to you again. I will never make you doubt me, my love for you or our child. I will do whatever it takes, Ella. Because I love you. There is so much of it, there is no room for anything else. Not thoughts of vengeance, not the need to destroy. Just love. And all of it for you and our family.’
She was startled to feel the pad of his thumb sweep aside a tear she hadn’t realised was there.
She reached for him then and pulled him towards her, delighting in the feel of his kiss, sweetened by her tears of joy.
‘I love you,’ she said between presses of her lips against his. ‘So, so much,’ she said. And that was the last thing he allowed her to say before sweeping her into his bedroom, closing the door and showing her how beautiful their lovemaking could, and would, be for the rest of their lives.
EPILOGUE
Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel...they each found their handsome prince. But Red Riding Hood found something so much more. She found her mate, her wolf...her pack. And in doing so she found herself.
The Truth About Little Red Riding Hood
—Roz Fayrer
ELLA STOOD IN the doorway to her daughter’s room in Puycalvel watching the four-year-old spin slightly off-centred circles in her little pink leotard and ballet shoes, both of which were extremely cute but nothing compared to the full length pink, frothy, layered, sparkly tutu that Roman had produced for her just hours before.
It was completely over the top but Tatiana loved it and had refused to take it off, not even for bed, despite the warnings that she might damage it.
‘I’m going to be the greatest ballerina ever,’ she proclaimed between spins, ‘but not as great as Grandma, because no one could be as good as Grandma.’
The sound of footsteps above on the staircase drew Ella’s attention towards her husband, who had their second daughter in his arms as he made his way carefully down the steps. Not once had he ever betrayed his promise to keep her and their children safe, not once had he ever given her cause to feel anything but joy and love. Frustration sometimes and perhaps, even on occasion, a healthy dose of anger. But never sadness and never fear.
The moment his eyes found hers, the smile on his face brightened, his eyes widened with an awe she would never tire of as he took in her, once again, rounded form.
‘We’re going to have to stop at three, you know,’ she warned in a voice still low from trying to settle her unruly daughter.
‘Why?’ he said, as if he would never tire of seeing her pregnant, of meeting the children they bore, of increasing the amount of love each time within their family. It seemed in almost never-ending supply.
‘Because I want you to myself for a while,’ she mock growled as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
‘You can have as much of me as you like, for however long you like. I am here, yours, always and for ever.’
‘It’s words like that that got me in this situation in the first place,’ she moaned, her hands sweeping down around her bump. Their third child was due in a few months’ time and neither parent could wait to meet the new addition to the family.
‘I will keep saying them until they stop working,’ her husband insisted.
‘I want to see Auntie Célia and my cousins,’ Tatiana announced, jumping up and down, despite the late hour.
‘And we will, but tomorrow, sweetheart. Now, it’s time for bed.’
‘Nope. Not time for bed.’
‘Yes, time for bed,’ Roman chimed in, walking into his daughter’s bedroom and sitting at the bottom of her bed. ‘And you know what that means?’
‘Story, story, story,’ exclaimed Tatiana as Adeline clapped her hands together with as much co-ordination as an eighteen-month-old could manage.
‘I believe it’s your turn, wife,’ Roman announced with a smile full of satisfaction and happiness. Ella believed that he loved this nightly routine almost more than the girls did.
‘No, surely you’re mistaken. It was my turn last night.’
‘No, Maman, last night was The Frog Prince. It’s your turn tonight.’
‘And what story would you like to hear?’
‘My favourite one, silly.’
Roman growled softly, and Tatiana looked apologetic enough for long enough, before reaching out a hand towards Ella to pull her on to the bed. Dorcas stalked over to her doggy bed in the corner of the room, seemingly content that she had successfully herded her entire family into one room.
As she sat down on the edge of the bed, next to her husband and children, Ella felt wrapped in a cocoon of unconditional love. Her family, all joyous, beautiful, beaming, happy and safe.
‘Once upon a time, there was a sweet little maiden and whoever laid eyes upon her couldn’t help but love her, nor help but remark on the beautiful red velvet cape her grandmother had given her...’
She looked at her husband and he didn’t need to hear the words that cried through her heart straight to his. For Ella did believe in fairy tales now that they’d both found their happy-ever-after.
Coming next month
REVELATIONS OF HIS RUNAWAY BRIDE
Kali Anthony
‘This marriage is a sham.’
In some ways, he agreed with her. Yet here he stood, with a gold wedding band prickling on his finger. Thea still held her rings. He needed her to put them on. If she did, he’d won—for tonight.
‘You’re asking me to return you to the tender care of your father?’ A man Christo suspected didn’t have a sentimental, loving bone in his body.
Thea grabbed the back of a spindly chair, clutching it till her fingers blanched. ‘I’m asking you to let me go.’
‘No.’
Christo had heard whispers about Tito Lambros. He was reported to be cruel and vindictive. The bitter burn of loathing coursed like poison through his veins. That his father’s negligence had allowed such a man to hold Christo’s future in his hands…
There was a great deal he needed to learn about Thea’s family—some of which he might be able to use. But that could wait. Now it was time to give her something to cling to. Hope.
‘You’ll come with me as my wife and we’ll discuss the situation in which we find ourselves. That’s my promise. But we’re leaving now.’
She looked down at her clothes and back at him. Her liquid amber eyes glowed in the soft lights. ‘I can’t go dressed like this!’
No more delays. She glanced at the door again. He didn’t want a scene. Her tantrums could occur at his home, where any witnesses would be paid to hold their silence.
‘You look perfect,’ he said, waving his hand in her direction. ‘It shows a flair for the dramatic—which you’ve proved to have in abundance tonight. Our exit will be unforgettable.’
She seemed to compose herself. Thrust her chin high, all glorious defiance. ‘But my hat… I told everyone about it. I can’t disappoint them.’
‘Life’s full of disappointments. Tell them it wouldn’t fit over your magnificent hair.’
Thea’s lips twitched in a barely suppressed sneer, her eyes narrow and glacial. The look she threw him would have slayed a mere mortal. Luckily for the most part he felt barely human.
‘Rings,’ he said.
She jammed them carelessly on her finger. Victory. He held out the crook of his arm and she hesitated before slipping hers through it. All stiff and severe. But her body still fitted into his in a way which enticed him. Caused his heart to thrum, his blood to roar. Strange. Intoxicating. All Thea.
‘Now, smile,’ he said.
She plastered on a mocking grimace.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. ‘Like you mean it, koukla mou.’
‘I’ll smile when you say that like you mean it, Christo.’
And he laughed.
This second laugh was more practised. More familiar—like an old memory. But the warmth growing in his chest was real. Beyond all expectations, he was enjoying her. For his sanity, perhaps a little too much…
Continue reading
REVELATIONS OF HIS RUNAWAY BRIDE
Kali Anthony
Available next month
Copyright ©2020 by Kali Anthony
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